Restoring Insects

Dehydrated insect eyes are ugly. You might think it's too late at this point to photograph them, however there are actually options for rehydrating insects. The chemistry involved revolves around wetting agents and their use.

Rehydration of Chrysidinae eyes (Chrysura radians?) with Decon90 - before and after a warm 2 hr soak. The restoration of the Jewel Wasp eye is excellent but attention must be drawn to the change in colours. What I don't know is if the colour change is colour restoration back to the original as it had when it was alive, or colour degradation. This incredibly dirty specimen was found on a windowsill and had been there for some time, prior to being kept frozen for 30 months. I then thawed it, cleaned it three times in an ultrasonic cleaner with Decon90, was surprised at how well the eyes were restored, let it dry for 4 days to dry out the eyes again, and did this test. I have not tested yet how well it will fare on a completely dehydrated specimen.

Wetting Agents

Water is what is called a polar molecule. If you could see one it would look like a "V" with an oxygen atom at the point of the V and a hydrogen atom at the end of each arm. Because oxygen and hydrogen atoms have different electrical natures the molecule as a whole isn't electrically symmetric: the oxygen end has a slightly negative charge and the two hydrogen ends have a slightly positive charge. This makes it behave like a magnet: attracting other polar molecules with opposite charges. So the - Hydrogen end of one water molecule sticks to the + Oxygen end of the next one, and so on. This is also what creates the surface tension force that pulls water droplets into spheres. Ie a +- attracts a +- attracts a +- and so on.

However, decomposed organic matter (ie insect specimens) are not +- charged like our friends the water molecules. When organic matter decomposes there is an organic nonpolar coat that adheres to the decomposed organic matter. And because it is nonpolar, water has a problem sticking to it. In other words, the particle will repel water, though in fact it's more accurate to say that it simply doesn't attract it.

Wetting agents, or surfactants, are molecules with one end that is attracted to water and the other that's attracted to nonpolar molecules like those in decomposed organic matter. They act like glue that holds two surfaces together that would otherwise repel each other.

With molecules of decomposed organic matter having coats that repel water, water doesn't reach into the spaces between them. But, once you get it just a little damp (ie through use of a wetting agent or through placing it in high humidity in which individual water molecules as vapour can infiltrate their way in) then there are some water molecules embedded in the specimen. Once this happens you get a chain reaction: their polar nature attracts other water molecules, overpowering the specimen's chemical force of repulsion (or more correctly: disinterest.)

Dishwater liquid is an everyday example of a wetting agent in use. With all the food oils and such on the plate, the cohesive forces inside the food, and between food and plate make it difficult for the water to spread and clean the plate. The dishwater liquid, a wetting agent, gets into these bonds between the food and the plate, and weakens them enough so that they come off the plate, dissolve, and your plate becomes clean.

Decon 90

Decon 90, more commonly used for radioactive decontamination.

Decon 90 is a milky white, non-viscous emulsion of anionic and non-ionic surface active agents, stabilising agents, non-phosphate detergent builders, alkalis and sequestering agents, in an aqueous base. Decon90's primary use is as a surface active cleaning agent and radioactive de contaminant for laboratory, medical and industrial applications. Decon 90 is not a consumer product, it will scar and eat through a varnished wooden surface and it is not suitable for use on non-ferrous metals, notably aluminium and zinc, or on polycarbonate. That said, Decon90 has quite the double identity, and is also used by natural history museums to restore organic specimens that have been preserved in alcohol and lost their colour and plumpness.

Decon90 is a strong alkaline substance and immersing a specimen in 100% Decon90 will dissolve internal musculature within 24-28 hrs, as I discovered with the grasshopper specimen that I used the first time I tried it. However, diluted it works well for restoring insect eyes: the photograph of a metallic wasp above was immersed in a 20% concentration in water and the eyes were restored after only two hours. It is important to note that the solution was only heated to 40-50 degrees F, ie warmed not hot.

The main ingredient of Decon90 appears to be KOH (Potassium hydroxide), and it transpires that this can easily be purchased in pellet form. It maybe worth investigating if KOH on its own performs as well as Decon90, as this would considerably lessen the delivery cost for purchasers overseas from the UK, where Decon90 is shipped from.

Leaving a Leaving a specimen in too hot or too strong Decon90 for too long can have the opposite effect to what's intended
specimen in too hot or too strong Decon90 for too long can have the opposite effect to what's intended. The same insect illustrated above was left overnight in the 20% solution and the specimen photographed in the morning. The left eye had started to cave in as illustrated so caution should be observed. It turns out that KOH is the main component of Decon90, and this degradation is due to a process commonly referred to as chemical cremation or resomation. Potassium hydroxide hastens the decomposition of soft tissues, both animal and human, to leave behind only the bones and other hard tissues - entomologists wishing to study the fine structure of insect anatomy may use a 10% aqueous solution of KOH to apply this process.

Other Agents

Ammonia

Household ammonia (25%) diluted with water to obtain a 10% ammonia solution can be carefully applied to insect parts under a stereo microscope to give a good recovery although discolouration and degradation may occur.

Trisodium Phosphate with Agepon

Agepon is ironically a photography substance: a photography wetting agent concentrate which was used to cut the drying time of photography paper. Trisodium phosphate (TSP) is an inorganic compound used as cleaning agent, lubricant, food additive, stain remover and degreaser. The major use for trisodium phosphate is in cleaning agents. The pH of a 1% solution is 12, and the solution is sufficiently alkaline to saponify grease and oils (saponify: convert fat into soap).

In combination with surfactants, TSP is an excellent agent for cleaning everything from laundry to concrete driveways. Good insect restoration results have been reported with this mix, better than Decon 90 albeit with a higher discard rate after treatment due to deterioration.

TSP is sold in powder form on eBay and is easily sourced. Mix it into distilled water (bought at a supermarket) and use any one of several photography wetting agents (they all more or less do the same thing, but do your research first).

Comments (12)

Would I be crazy to consider making my own solution based on NaOH-pellets (available in the supermarket) and some detergent? Is detergent for washing clothes a bad choice? Regular soap perhaps? Any thoughts?

I don't see why not but of course you need to take precautions and do homework first. For example I gather some of these chemicals can have quite a violent reaction, and of course you need safety goggles gloves etc

Hi Johan. An excellent article like all your others, especially for a newbie like me! I am experimenting with Decon 90 on some random specimens about three months old in an attempt to learn how to use it. Before I go too far I have a question for you based on just one test I have made on a hoverfly. My hoverfly had red eyes but there were dark patches and general discolouration here and there - but also large areas of the original red. Immersion in Decon 90 followed by a water rinse gave a uniform shiny appearance to the eyes but turned the eyes entirely black. I am wondering if Decon 90 is best for insects with black eyes. I used it at 100% for 5 minutes warmed to about 30deg. Is that what you would expect?Best wishes,Mike

Hello Mike - 100% Decon90 at 30 degC is a lot stronger and a lot hotter than I'd use - I would try much weaker and cooler. It took me a while to find a strength and temperature that didn't make my things go odd - it maybe the same for you. I'm not aware of different eyes reacting differently - could very well be the case but not something I've experienced myself! Good luck